Machine for manufacturing tubes.



A. E. & G'. LAWTON.

MAUHINE PUR MANUFACTURING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JES, 1912. 1,070,268. Patented Aug.12,1913.

al SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET?.

A. E. @L G. LAWTUN.

APPLICATION FILED-mm3, 1912.

MAGHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES.

. O d. Il mqmmh. ...M i Al m o O A. E. & G. LAWTON.

MACHNE FOB. MANUFACTURING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1912.

Patented Aug. 12,'1913.

s sHBTsfsHEBT s.

@afar/296.

A. E. & G. LAWTUN. f

MIAGHINE POB.' MANUFACTURING TUBES.

APPLICALIOlT FILED JUNE 3, '1912.

y Patented Aug. 1,12, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. E.& G. LAWTON. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNES, 1912. 1,070,268i Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

` 8 SHEBTS-SHEETAE.

A. E. n G. LAWTON. MACHINE NoN MANUFACTURING TUBES.

l APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1912. 1,070,268 Pajzened Aug. 12, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Wim wires.

A. E.& G. LAWTON. MACHINE POR MANUFACTURING TUBES.

Patented Aug.12,1913. l

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1912.

nef

-IGLL A. E. & G. LAWTON.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE s. 1912.

1,070,268, Patented Aug. 12, 1.913.

' B SHEETS-SHEET B. l

UNITED STATES @nur y nte.

ALBERT EDWARD LAWTON, oF MANcHEsTERgAND Gannon LAWTQN, or snnrmnnn,

, ENGLAND.

, MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURNG TUBES.

. Application led .une 3, 1912. Serial No. 701,393.

ToaZZ 1li/om I5-may concern y Be it, known that we, Aiamn'r EDWARD LAw'rox and (immun Lxw'roN, suhjcets of the King ot' Great Britain. residing at l0?) East. road, Longsight, Manchester, England, and 30 'lalhot Place, Park, Shetield, England, respcctively. have invented cer ain new and useful lmprorenunts in. Machines for Manitat-turing' luhes: and we do hereby declaro the following to he. a full, clear,- and exact description ot' the invention, such as will enahley others skilled iu the art to which it appcrtaius to malte and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus tor the manufacture of t-uhes from helically wound st rips of metal.

According to the. present invention two strips .which are preferably previously heated to the temperature of the molten solder in the die hox are led into the die pox hy lt'ced rolls the lio-ttom one ot which is located within the die hox. The strips are forced around against cylindrical rollers which lie parallel with the axis of the issuing tuhe. 'ihey then pass through the box of molten metal while in the dic box as heretofore and as the-strips come around upon themselves they are `gripped a. second tinu` hy the feed rollsl so that the orerlapi ping joints' are nipped together a second time. 'lhe strips in the hox are forced in a helial course and kept in their relative position h v means of shoulders on the antift'iction rollers ahove referred to. 'ihe tuhe in issuingt'rotn the die hex supported hf.' rollers which as heretofore are. capable of adjustment Se as to be. capable of Supporting tnoes of ditterent diameteis. -In this instance the rollers are arranged to be. adjusted in a. direction radially of they center ot' the tube.'

l he (aiming o'tf device is mounted on a s iding carriage as heretofore and controlled by a trip deyice. It is however interconnected with the supporting .rolls so that it is capable of adjust-ment in a direction radially of the center of the Luhe. At. the same time it is actuated in an improved manner herein-- after described.

According to 'the present invention they Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, t"

which is rolled with two steps one on each side so'that 'the outside edges of 'the strip are formed ot' half the thickness of the center portion o ttho strip and so proportioned that. in coilinp; one edge comes underneath the other edge and forms a tube. having smooth surface both inside and out.

The onli,Y nioditiratimis which are neces- ,saryu to enahle a tnhe to hc. manufactured from the strip are in the means for guiding' .the same to the feed rolls.

In order thaty the invention may loe fully unflerstood reterenee will now he had to .the accompanying;` drawings in which:

Figure l is a side. elevation o't the ma chine as a who-le. Fig'. E2 an end elevation of the machine with the rear for 'aisi" and lewe-rime the solder hath omitted. l* n. 3 is a plan view ot Fig'. l. Fig. 4. is an enlarged end elevation showing feed rolls and looking in the direction o t the arrow lV Figi. l. Fig'. 5 is a sectional eleva,n tion of the feed rolls taken on the line .LJJ oi" Fig. 4.' Fig'. 'tl is a. detail View ehoxfing the means ,tor guiding: the strios to tl' force rolls on a larg ale. Fig. 7 is a View toiiig. G the parts being mot.. .lcd so as to he suitable for a single andy specially constructed strip hereinafter described. fiiq. S is a sectional View showing' a portico. of a. tuhe 'oustrucied with t special section. Fig'. 9 is a` phn i' the niechiotistn actuating' .th in Fig. lr with the. guide -rp' if@ A-:; ot Viv. showing the method of on crating the, iced and pressing rolls. Fie. il.

is a sect nal end View of the feed and pressing rolls taken on the line, X-Xl' of 4l, 9 and 10. Fig. 12 is an vend elevation of the, die hox showing the relative position of the feed rolls in dotted lines and looking in the direct-ion of the arrow'll in' i. Fig. 13 is a. half elevation and .half section of the die box shown in Fig. l2. Fig'. is a plan view of the die -box shown in Fig-g. 13 with the. feed rolls removed. Fig'. it.' is a detail View showingl the force rolls the die hox and the method ot mounting 'the saine. Fig. 16 is an end View ot' the detail view Fig'. 15. Fig'. 17 is an. elevation in partial section showing' the method of mount ing the supporting' rolls looking' in the direction of the arrow XVII Fig. 1. Fig. 18 is a side elevation in partial section of one supporting rolt looking in the direction of the arrow XVlll Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a section on the line XIXWXlX Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is an elevation in partial section of one ot the suyriport'ing hearingsI for the supporting rolls. Fig. 21 is an end elevation of thc saw operating' mechanism looking in the direction of the arrow XXI Fig. 1. Fig. 22 is a plan view of. Fig. 2l with the bearings for the supporting rolls removed. Fig. 23 is a detail View of the traversing mechaiiisni of the saw. Fig. 24 is a detail view showing the means for raising and lower ing the saw. F ig. is a detail of the cain shown in Fig. 24. Fig. 26 is a detail View showing the means for mounting the saw. Fig. 27 is an enlarged plan View in partial section of the saw trip gear shown i'n Fig. 3. Fig. 28 is an end`view of the saw trip gear looking in lthe direction of the arrow XXVIII Fig..27 while F ig. 29 is a cross section on the line XXlX-AXXIX of Fig. 27 looking in theV direction there indicated. Fig. 30 is a detail view of. the resetting motion for the saw trip gear.

In order that. the reference ciphers in the following description may be readily allotted to their respective parts the parts of the device performing the dierent functionsl are each given a letter index. The parts of the feeding in mechanism Will be given the. index o and the mechanism as a Whole indicated by A, the parts of the die box the index l and the mechanism as a whole indicated by B, the parts of the tube supporting mechanism the index c and the .mechanism as a Whole indicated by C, the parts of the trip gear the index d and the mechanism as a Whole indicated by D, the parte of the saw cutting device the index c and the mechanism as a Whole indicated by E.

Ell be seen more especially in Figs'. i. '.2 and 3 the device is provided with a feed- -a .trip device D which causes the cutting ott or saw device .E to be operated. '.lhe solder bath and its parts are indicated as a whole by the letter F and are capable of being raised and lowered. The main driving 'shaft of the device is indicated by (l as will be seen more especially in Fig. il.

/1 rice/ing in denim- The feeding in device is best explained with reference to :'"igs #i to 11. in Fig. 4 it will be seen that the two strips X and Y tiret pass between guide i in housingsl 20.

7 are normally pressed dtnvnward by spring rollers 1 and 2 and thence through pressure plates'B which are shown in end View in Fig. 5 and on an enlarged scale in Fig. t5. These pressure plates are secured to the frame of the machine by brackets 4; to which they are heid so as to be normally pressed the one toward the other by means of springs located in the housings 5. Be-' tween the guide plates 3there is located a stationery plate 6 which is rigidly secured to the frame of the machine. .As will be seen in Figs. 5 and 6 the lide plates are formed with recesses into wlilich portions of the staticnaryplate 6 enter so as to form sldeways for the two strips X and Y to pass along. lt Will be noted that the guide plates are so located that' each of the strips overlaps the other strip for half of its Width which is their relative posit-ionl during and after the manufacture of the tubes. The pressure of the springs in the housings 5 pressing the plates 3 upon the plate G causes any inequality or uncvenness in the strips to be ltaken out' before the same pass to the feed and pressing rolls 7 and 8 which are more clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11. These rolls 7u and 8a are'positively driven one from the other by gear wheels which are in turn driven by an intermediate toothed Wheel 9 which is driven by a toothed wheel 10 mounted 'in a short shaft 11tL which is connected by bevel gearing 12 to Nthe rotating splined shaft 13 which is again connected by bevel gearing 14 and driven from a further spline shaft 15 which in turn is connected by gearing 1Ga with a central shaft 17 driven by bevel gearing 18 from the main driving shaft of the machine G. The upper feed-roll 7a as shown in Fig. 11 is provided with a sleeve 19 of slightly greater diameter than the roll 7L so as to forni a shoulder against which the edge ot the outer strip X can bear when passing between the two rolls. The sleeve 19u is mounted loosely on the roll 7 so as to compensate for the different Aperipheral speeds of the two parts. The bearings of both the feed rolls 7 and S shown in Fig. 11 are mounted rl`he bearings for the roll pressure the springs 21n being' located in a closed cylinder 22 through which it is possible to arrange fora circulation of water by pipes 23 to prevent the springs from overheating as would be the ease were no pi'ovision made for keeping them cool. The cylA inders 22 are provided with cores 24 about which the springs 21 are loca'ted and which serve at the same tinieas means tor conducting lubricant to the bearingsof the roll 7.

The spaces between the cores 24 and the cylfrom the solder bath as will be hereii'iafter described. ln Figs. 7 and 8 a special seetion of strip is shown whereby a tube can'be formed from a single-strip. Fig. 7 shows the necessary modiication in the pressure plate 3 one of which only is required in this case. Fig. 8 shows ihe'section of the tube formed with the special section of strip. Previous to enterino' the guide rollers la and 2 the strips X and pass through a furnace '45a Fig. 2 in whichv hot gases Yare brought to bear on the strips heating them to such a temperature that they will not cause the Solder to' be chilled upon immersion. This furnace is preferably mounted upon a bracket 46a which in turn is bolted to the saddle 283.

The die bowl- The die box B shown ink `Fig. 1 and in greater detail in Figs. 12 to 16 is located so that the strips X and Y which,

are fed through by the feed rollers 7a and 8a are forced directly into it and owing to its shape and the arrangement of its rolls hereinafter described the strips are forced around fin a helix upon themselves untilihey again approach the feeding in rolls Where they are again nipped together' so as to toiin a part of the issuing manufactured tubi or eylin" der. The strips in being forced aroundin the die box are givenrtheir helical course by the one strip coming in Contact with-flanges 1" located on rollerslb which are alternated with rollers 3b, While the relative positions of the two strips are held by theouter strip bearing against shoulders 4 'formed upon both sets of rollers 2lb and 3b. As will be noted these rollers arsari-apged with their axes parallel with the axis otl the issuing manufactured tube and exceptior the shoul ders above described are of uniform thickness throughouttheir length. '.lhese rollers bear in angular rings 5 and t?" the facing surfaces of which. are formed .in a helisv corresponding to ,the pitch oi' the helix in the nally manufactured tube. The rollers bear in the facing" portions" of theseftwo rings and G1 in bushes Y" located in sockets. '.lhese sockets'are provided at their inner ends with lubricating ducts Sb which pass right ,through to the opposite faces oi' the two rings. 0n the faces of each of these rings there `is formed a semi-circular groove Jl rsf'hichtogether with a similar groove on the adjacent plate 1Gb and on. the tlange 11') ol vthe mouth l2b of the die box forms a circular lubricating duct which on the top et' the die box communicates with the outside by means of vertical ducts' 13". The two rings on the die box are held at the desired distance apart by Ameans of spacing bars 14h.

It'will be obvious from the foregoing dechriotion that both of the strips are guided in a helical direction by he specialarrangement of rolls described and they are further during the whole of their travel through the die box kept in their relative positions and they pass through the die boxwith as little friction against their guiding ,surfaces as is possible.

As only the lower portion of the die box will be immersed in the molten solder a hood Lor easing 'of suitable construction is arranged so as to conduct thevhot gases from:

the solder furnace to the upper port-ion of the die box.` The heat so conducted niay b e augmented by4 jets of llame, the object being to maintain the whole of the die box at a constant temperature. The hood is not shown in the drawings. being omitted to allo-i' the construction ot' the die box to be clearly illustrated.

The supporting medium'svmf'fhe manufactured tube as it issues from the die box B is supported by 'rotating rollers l shown with their bearings and actuatingylnechanisms in Fig. 'l and on a larger scale in Figs. 17 to 20. suitable lengths and connected `by short shafts Q Which'bear in brackets 3. At such parts ot' their length as it is desired to positively drivethe rollers le bevel gearing l-l as shown in Figs. 17 and 18 is arranged. The vbearings are mounted on inclined supports or standards 5C which carry spline shafts l connected lo the bevel' gearing l" above referred lo. These spline .shaits are tbcn'iselrcs dri von b y bevel 'gearing T" which is in turn driven from a sha lt S actuated from a sprocket wheel l Figs. l and 3, the sprocket wheel beingl actuated by suitable chain gearing as shown in big. :l on thenmin shaft (lr. sii-ed to support the rollers l the arrangements shown in Fig. 2() are adopted \\',hercb v inclined supports 10'; are `provided with siniple bearings 1l" lor the shw't shafts 2C cmi-- necting up the dill'crenlr lengths of the rollers l.

it such places as itis simply de- The rollers 1c are arranged in lll) greater detail in Figs. :il lo lo is mounted between s .andards 2 and bears in a block 2l adjustable for pur-poses hereinafter described in the supports 3" and in a further block: -which is capable ot' vertical n1ovement in the block il, The block l" is prov vided with a. stirruo which has two rods which project up through a portion ot the block 3 and are normally held iii-their high est position by means ol"suitable'springs (le the springs (ie tending therefore to normally hold the saw 'le in itshighest position. The stiirup 5" carries a small roller 1l" while the block 3 also carries a rotating cam 7 shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 25 which is rotated as shown in Fig. 21 by means ot' bevel gearing Se, shaft 9e, bevel gearing l()e andspline shaft 11. The bevel wheel of the bevel gearing l()e on the shaft 11e is capable of sliding up and down on the shaft. The lower end of the spline shaft 11"' carries a pinion 12e which works in a rack 13 as the saw and its standard is reciprocated backward and forward as hereinafter described. It will be obvious that the outward reciprocation of the saw will cause the pinion 12 to travel along the rack 13 Vand rotate and finally cause the cam 7 e t0 also rotate in such a way as to force down the saw l until the. point of the campasses the roller 14:6 when the springs will again raise the saw. On the backward travel of the saw the cam 7c will naturally tend to rotate in the reverse direction but will be incapable of doing so owing to the small roller 14e. To permit however of the shaft carrying the cam 7e rotating the cam is mounted on a free wheel mechanism 15e. The reciprocation of the saw le and its supports 2e in a direction parallel to the axis of the manufactured tube is brought about by means of the device shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 21, Q2 and For this purpose a suitable differential gear 16e (not shown in detail inthe drawings) is provided driven from the main shaft G by suitable chain gear 17. The ultimate wheel 18 of the differential and chain gear is connected to the gear in such a way as to be thrown in and out of engageinei'it therewith by means of a clutch 19 operated in a manner hereinafter described. The wheel 18c engages with a spur wheel Q0e carried on a shaft 21 carrying two bevel wheels QQ and 23 which drive bevel wheels connected to spur wheels 524e and 25e. These latter spur wheels in turn drive shafts 26 and 27e which carry spur wheels 2S and 29e having teeth for only half of their periphery. These half wheels 28e and 29e work in connection with a rack o0" which is rigidly connected to a saddle 31 which slides upon a gauntree The mechanism shown in Fig. 23 causes a continuous reciprocation of the rack and thereforeof the saw in a direction parallel with the axis of the tube in the followingl manner. ln the position shown a stud 33c on the half spur wheel Q5)a is pressing against a downward projection 34? on the raclc so as to bring the teeth of the wheel 29e into gear with the teeth of the rack so as to force the rack over to the ri glit. After the wheel 29 has made a half revolution it will of course not be able to forward the rack any .fiirtheiz At this point however the stud 3 5@ on fthe half spur wheel QS will be just coming into contact with the corresponding projection 36e in the rack and so as the half spur wheel 28 is rotated in the opposite direction to tl. half spur wheel .299 it will force ther-achr bach again to the left.

imanes The saw l" is connected rigidly to a sprocket wheel 37e which in turn is driven by a chain from a sprocket wheel 38C. The shaft De uwhich carries the saw and sprocket 3T is connected by a Swingin arm 40c to a further swinging arm 41" while the sprocket 38 hears upon a shaft which joins together and acts as a hinge for these two swinging arms 4.0e and 411 The .other end of the arm el is hinged to a standard 42e on the saddle le above referred to. The sprocket wheel BSc is in its turn driven from the sprocket Wheel 43e. The sprocket wheel 43e, is carried on a spline shaft 44e and is capable of moving inward thereon with the saddle 31, being held securely on the saddle between suitable side bearings. The spline shaft 44 is driven independently of the rest of the device from a pulley 45. The clutch 19" is operated from the trip mechanism D.

Trip mechanism- The trip mechanism Figs. 27-29 consists of a finger 11 which lies in the path of the finished tube as it issues frointhe device and is arranged at suoli a distance from the saw as to be operated only when the desired length of tube has traveled'past the saw. As this is effected the tube comes into contact with the finger 1l1 which is connected to a bell crank lever 2d which pulls down a rod 3 and turns a three arn'ied lever idf The center arm of which draws down a catch 5 against the pressure of the spring 6d. The drawing down of the catch 5d releases the rod 7 and permits the spring S located in the housing 9 to force the rod 7d along to the left and so engage the clutch 19e and set into train all the gearing for moving the saw along the axis of the tube and the mechanism for lowering the saw on to the tube as hcreinbefore dcscisibed.

As it is desirable to keep the finger ld posi-V tively out of contact wil i the tube while the same is being eut. the third arm of the lever ed carries a small projection 10d while the shaft 7d carries a pawl bracket l1d carrying a small pawl 1Q which normally rests upon the proj cction l0, As the finger li.d is forced aside by the tube the pawl 12d falls behind the projection Il()d and then as the rod is given its sudden impulse to the left the pawl bracket lld and therefore the pawl 121 is `carred with the rod and the pawl 12 forces the projection 10d over. to the left which will obviously' hold the finger ld clear ofthe tube.

,The saw saddle or carriage 31 is rovided l with a projectionlmving a depending finger 13d as in Fig. 30 which in the' outward travel of the saddle passes a trip lever 14d mounted on the bracket 15d. The lower endI of this trip leveflfl engageslwith a tooth 16'l arranged on( the clutchrod 7-1 and the finger ini' i3d on the outward travel of thesaddle S1111-,4

ply trips the lever 14 but toward'the end of its return `travel will strike this lever 14 .raised and forced back.

and cause it to engage with the tooth 16i and so forces back the rod 7d against the-pressure of the spring 8 in Fig. i' and will at the saine time draw back the 'pawl 12d so that it `will rest upon` the projection 17d and be raised clear or the projection 10d xo n the third arm of the lever ed and so permit the finger to 're-set itself and the catch 5i to again engage with the shaft 7d.

Solder bmbf-The solder bath F is arranged so as to be uwholly removable from the die bei: B. For this purpose the actual bath is mounted on a trolley 2f bearing on suitable rails 3f. The bath l is connected to the trolley by means of swinging supporting arms 4E and held in its adjusted position by means of a swinging threaded shaft- 5t operated by any suitable mechanism 6' secured to the trolley. 'By operating the mechanism 6' the bath will swing down toward the trolley till it is clear of the die box after which the trolley can be removed on the rails 3.

The action of the device as a whole is as follows The two strips X and Yv are led in past the guide rollers la and 2 through the pressure plates 3a to the feed rollers 7a and 8a. By these feed rollers they are forced into the die box which owing to the arrangement of the rollers 2b and 3*? and their shoulders lb and e causes the two strips while keepin in their-proper relative relation, with eac of them overlapping the other for half of their width, to curve around upon themselves in a helix and in so doing to pass through the bath F of molten solder the two strips after passing through the bath again entering between the feed rollers 7** and 8a as shown in Fig. l1` where they are again nipped together as the solder is cooling and vfirmly secured to each other. The tube as itis formed keepsturning and issues out of the die box and comes on to the rollers 1c which help it to rot-ete. Vshen the desired length of tube has'been manufactured the trip device D is actuated so that themotion for traversing the saw is brought into aotion. As thesaw is traversed the motion 'for depressing the saw is brought into action so that the saw which is rotated from a separate source comes down upon the lcube and travels along with it until it has cut through the tube after which the saw is The saddle carry- 1 ing the saw in traveling back re-sets the trip device D so that the saw will again be put' into motion on a further length of tube being manufactured. i j

The feed rolls and the bearing rollers together with the different gears for traveling the saware all actuated in the manner as above described from the shaft (ih In order that the apparatus may be adapted ormanufacturing tubes of .different diameters and from strips of different widths of different widths the guide pulleys la and 2a are inteicbanged for others of thc necessary width. As will be seen in Fig. 4 these vguide pulleys aiemoiintcd upon a plate 2T so that they together with the plate can easily and quickly bc'reinoved and other guide pulleys and plates substituted there# i for. The guide plates 3 and the intermediate plate (5 can also be removed andv others substituted therefor while the feed rolls 7v and 8EL can also be removed with their housing 20a. At the same time different sized die boxes can be used in the machine foraccommodating the different widths of strip. The adjustments necessary for manui facturing tubes of different diameters are however of a more serious character necessitating 1n the first place the provision of va. die box of the correct diameter, in the second place means for adjusting the `feed rollsin height-and in the relative angle between them and the airis of the tube, in the third place an adjustment for the height of the supporting rollers, in the fourth place an adjust-ment for the height-of the saw and in the iftliplace an adjustment for the rate of traverse of the Saw while in addition there are means for adjusting the lengthsof 1 manufactured tube which are lautomatically cut oil'. `It will. be understood that. the

virtual axis or center of the manufactured `tube remains constant for all dimensionsof the manufactured tube. i

Aoljuementl for' iez'gnfjof feed @llera- This adjustment is etected by mounting' the guide pulleys or rollers la and 2a and the mechanism leading up to the feed 'rollers-1I 7 and ,8f on a vertically. moving saddle 28` which slides upon a standard 29 being actuated by means of a suitable applied l cured to tliesaddle 281. The `vertical screwed sha-ft 34 about*yvhichf-tliemiit 32" rotates is xed to the i'nain foundation ofr the machine. j

Arlington-'n forI the relative enf/lc bet-weon fz-0 feed rollers and amis of tube. This ad,

justinent brought about by mounting the i support 29a`for the saddle carrying the feed rollers, etc., on a turn table 35 Figs.' 9A and 3 the circular portion of which is held to the rigid portion by means' ot clamping dc- 12o. vvices 36 which can be slackened to allowof` the whole deviceI being;` turned around upon the-bed. This adjustment will naturally remove the feed rollers from ihcii'propi-.r relative'p'osition in the .die box anillo-coinpensatev for this it is necessary tb. provide/ for an adjustment of the device firstly lengthwise of the machine'which. is effected derneath the lplatform or turn table 35, and4 leading u to the feed rollers 7a and `sliding portion BSP is by turning the shaft 37 which is screw threaded as shown at 38a and engages unsecondly by adjustment of the feed rollers in a direction at rightangles to their own axis. This latter adjustment is effected as shown in Figs. 9 and 4 by mounting the bevel gearing 12" and the train of garingi' a an( these fee `rollers themselves on a plate 39e which is capable of sliding in the desired direct-ion in slides 'on the saddle 28a. This is eiiected by turning the shaft 40a which bears in a lug 41 secured to the sliding por tion and engages with itsl screw threaded portion with an internally threaded lug 112a1 mount-ed on the saddle" 28a. To permit of the bevel wheels 12n keeping in gear through this last adjustment the shaft 13a Fig. 10 is splincd and the respective bevel Wheel is mounted thereon so as to be'veapable of longitudinal movement., being held securely to the sliding portion 39 by means of an external bearing 43 2Sn by means of av suitable bolt 44 Figs.

4a and 9;

Adjustment for height of supporting 'rolers.-This is best illustrated with rettercnce to Figs. 1, 17 and 18. As shown im. Fig. 1 the shaft 12c is actuated by handy through Worm gearing 13"'. This shaft is clearly shown in Fig. 17 and rotates a counter shaft. 14 through spur gearing 1.5. These two shafts 14 and 12c and each of the supports for the supporting rollers are provided with Worm gearing 16c which drives stationary threaded shafts 17. 0n each shaft 17c there is a nut 1S" which is connected with a slide 19 which carries the bevel gearing 4" which is driven by the spline .shaft 6. As before described the spline shaft 6 is driven by means of the bevel gearing 7. It will. be obvious that as the worm gearing 13c is actuated the slide 19 will be moved up Aor down iu a direction radially of the tube to be manufactured. At the same time owing to the arrangement of the spline shaft Geaud the bevel gearing 7c the rotation oi the support-ing rollers will not be affected.

Adjustment of the aaarThis adjustment lis effected from the shaft 1 2c by means of a sprocket Wheel 46 Fig. 1 which by means ot suit. ble chains drives a sprocket wheel 47e securely held to the standard 4118e and rotating the spline shaft 49", at the outer end of which there is arranged a Worm 50 shown in Figs. 1 and 26. This worm engages'with a 'Worm Wheel 51 keyed to an upright threaded shaft 52 which carries at its upper end a sprocket w eel 53e which is copnected by means of c` ain earing with the sprocket wheel 54 on a urther threaded shown, in Fig. 10. The. locked to the saddle'" romane shaft 55e on the opposite sident the saw actuating gear. The block 3 which carries the block L1"* above referred to is provided at each side with a lug 56c each ot which engages one et the upright threaded shafts 55" and 52e. It will therefore be obvious that when the worm gear 13 is operated to adjust the supporting rollers 1c the upright threaded shafts 52 and 55e will be operated so as to raise and lower the saw 1E in a di rection radially of the tube being manufactured. As the sprocket wheel 47e is only connected to the shaft 119 b means of a spline it is possible :for the sha t t9eito project out to the lett in Fie'. 1 as the saw is traversed. One of the standards carrying the supporting rollers 1"l is, as is shown in Fig. 1, provided with a scale 20 whereby the necessary amount of adjustment of the supporting rollers and of the saw for specially sized' tubes can be ascertained.

Adjustment for the length of tube to be out off-This adjustment is effected by ,mounting the trip device D on the square rod 1S and clamping it in position by means of a set screw or the like 19d so that its position along the rod 18 cari be adjusted according to the length of tube to be cut ofi'.

`We declare that what we claim is l. ln an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from strips of metal, the combination of a die box; means for guiding the strips to said die box; spirally arranged roller 'dies in said die box collectively cri-operable for ceiling and supporting said strips in the form of a helix; means for uniting the said strips; and means for rotating the tube as linished.

2. In an apparatus for vnianutarturiug tubes from strips of metal, the combination 'ot a die box; means for guiding the strips to said die box; roller dies in said die box arranged with their axes parallel to the axis of the manufactured tube for the purpose of ceiling said strip into a helix, said yroller dies constructed with means for positioning the coils of the helix the required distance apart; pressing rollers for uniting the separate coils together: and means for turning the tube as finished.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from strips of metal, the combination of a die box; means forguidiug the strips to the said die box; roller dies in said die box arranged with their axes parallel to the axis of the tube, said roller dies constructed with shoulders for positioning the coils the requisite distance apart.; pressing rollers for uniting the separate turns of the helix together; and means'for turning the tube as it is formed. l

4. 1n an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from metal strips, the combination of 'a die box; means 'or guiding the strips to kretirees said die box; roller dies in said die box with their axes parallel to the axis of the tube, said roller diesA constructed `with shoulders lfor positioning the. coils the ,requisite distance apart; a bath fof molten metal: pressing rollers forV guiding said helix through said bath and'nniting the separate turns ot the helix together; and vmeans for turning thel tube as it tinished.

5. ln an apparatus for mamif'aeturing tubes from stripswof;metal. the combination of a die box; meansforguiding th'e stripsv to said die box; roller dies in said -die box with their axes parallel to th;` vaxis of the tube, said roller dies constructed with shonlv ders for positioning the coils tlie requisite distance apart; a bath of molten metal; pressing rollers forA guiding said helix throughsaid bath and uniting the separate turns et the helix together; means for turning the tube as it is finished; and means for cutting oft predetermined lengths from the iinished tube.

ii. ln an .apparatus .for manufacturing tubes from strips of metahthe combination of rollers for guidin the strips to a die b.' x;

-roller dies in said i ie box for coiling said strips 'in the form ot a helix; pressing rollers tor'fguidingsaid helix through a hath ot molten metal and uniting the separate turns of the` helix` together; means for rotating the tube as finished; and means for cutting off predetermined lengths lfrom the linished tube. i

7. In al1-.apparatus for `manufaeturing tubes from strips of metal, the combination of a diebox; an upper pressing and guiding roller; a lower pressing and' guidingroller within said `die box; roller dies in said die box arranged with their axes parallel to the' axis of the tube, said roller dies constructed with shoulders for positioningthe coils" the requisite distance apart,said pressing rollers adapted tor uniting the separate parts of the helix together; and means for turning the tube as.it is formed.

S. In anV apparatus for manufacturing tubes Jr'iom strips of metal, the combination of a die box; an vupper pressing and guiding roller; a lower nressing and guiding roller within said die box; roller dies for coiling said strips in 4the form ot' a helix, said roller dies having shoulders for positioning the coils ofrthe said helix at the required dist-ance apart, .said pressing and guiding rollers ,adapted yfor passing said helix through a bath of inolt'en metal; means for turning the tube as formed; and means for cutting oft `predetermined lengths from the finished tuhegv v. f

9. In. an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from strips ofmetal, the combination' ofnieans lfor feeding the strips;a1dieboxl formed --of' two annular .sections-'having parallel helical fares: spacing bars holding said sections apart; and roller dies having parallel sides bearing in said helical faces,

and adapted to shape the lube.

1l). v.in an apparatus vt'or mai'niiacturing 'tubes from strips oli' metal, the'combination ing roller within said-box; sparing bars;v

holding said annular sections apart; roller dies having parallel sides bearing in said annular sections. and having shoulders for guidix'ig the` strips into the form otay helix; and means t'or turning the tubeas it is linlished;

l2. In-an apparatus for nulnufactming tubi-strom strips ot' metal, the combination ot' a die box 'formed el"lwoannular sections having helical faces; an'upper guiding and pressing roller; a lowerguidingand pressing roller within said box; spacing bars holding said annular sections apart; roller dies having parallel sides bearing in said annular sections` and having` shoulders for guiding the strip into the form ot' Ya helix; a bath of molten metalthrough which the formingtube is innnersed; means t'or turning the tube; and means t'or cutting ott predetermined lengths irom thetinished lube. 13. In an apparatus for imunrfaeturng tubes from strips ot'inelalrthe comhination of il plain vroller; a second roller having an enlargement. acting conjunetivelywith said iirst'rolle n die box formed of two annular sections having parallel helical faces; spacing bars holding said annular sections apart.; and roller dies having parallel sides hearing in said helical faces, and `having shoulders for shaping the tube. y

14. In an apparat-us for manufacturing tubes from strips ot' metal, the 'combination of a plain guiding and pressing roller; 'a second guiding and` pressing roller having a relatively rotatable sleeve; a die box formed of two annular sec-tions having helical faces;

spacing hars heldinfr said sections apart; and roller dies having parallel sides bearing in said helical faces and having shoulders and flanges whereby the strips are engaged at `their overlapping and edge portionsuwhen lpassingth'rough the die box; said first lfkmedjpair of rollers adapted for gnrdingf` y saiil strips a a molten bath of solder` and for pressing the soldered edges thereof to form a continuous tube while said molten metal is solidifying.

15. In an apparatus tubes from strips of metal, the combination of a plain guiding and pressing roller; a second guiding and pressing roller having a relatively rotatable sleeve; a die box formed of two annular sections having helical faces; spacing bars holding said sections apart; an annular series of roller dies having parallel sides bearing in saidhelical faces and having shoulders and flanges whereby the strips are engaged at their overlapping and edge portions and formed' into a tube in said die box; means for holding a bath of molten metal for immersing the tubeas it is formed to unite the coils thereof, said first-named rollers adaptedfor pressing the coils of said tube while said molten metal is solidifying; and means for cutting olf predetermined lengths-from the finished tube.

16. In an apparatus for 'manufacturing tubes from strips of metal, the combination of a die box; means .for guiding the strips to saiddie box; a plurality of spirally arranged roller dies 1n said box collectively coperable for ceiling and supporting said strips in the form of a helix; and presser rollers for uniting the coils of said strips.

17. In an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from metal strips, the combination of a die box; means for feeding the strips to the said die box; roller dies in said. die box with their axes parallel to the axis of the tube and having shoulders for positioning the tube coils the 'requisite distance apart; a bath of molten metal for soldering the tube coils; and means for turning the tubeas it is finished.

18. In an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from strips of metal, the combination of a central guide plate; upper and lower guide plates coperable with said central plate to guide two separate strips incorrect relation; a die box; roller dies in said die box having shoulders adapted to coil. said strips into the form of a helix; means for treating said helix to a bath of molten metal; and means for pressing said helix rWhile said molten metal solidifying.

i9. dn an apparatus for manufacturing tubes from a metal strip, the combination of strip guidiugplatcs; a die box; roller dies in said die box and having shoulders adapted to guide the separate coils of. the strip in relatively correct relation to form the tube; a bath of molten metal; means for compressing the tube while the molten metal is solidifying; means for cutting oit predetermined lengths of the finished tube; means for moving said cutting of? mechafor manufacturingl imanes nism along the tube at the same speed as the tube is manufactured; means for releasing said cutting device; and means for returning said 'cutting device to its original position.`

20. A strip feeding and guiding mechanism for tube forming machines comprising coperating rollers; a stationary plate having Aoppositely projecting and relatively odsetting portions; movable plates having recesses engaging respectively with lthe ott'- setting portions of the stationary plate; and means for holding said movable plates under variable tension.

21. The combination in a tube formin machine of a die box comprising a pair o annular' sections having opposed spiral walls; socket pieces located within said walls; and roller dies journaled-Within said socket pieces. l

22. The combination in a tube forming machine of a die box; means for holding a bath of molten solder to immerse a portion of the die box; rollers journaled adjacentthe die box and adapted toguide the strip and unite the soldered edges thereof; and means for cooling the journals of said guiding and pressure rollers.

Q3. The combination with a tube forming machine in which the inished tube is caused to travel axially thereof; of a tube severing mechanism comprising a saw and a carriage mounted to travel lengthwise ofthe tube; a toothed. rack carried by said carriage; a pair of segmental |pinions operable to alternately engage with saidl rack to reciprocate the carriage; means for constantly rotating said segmental pinions; and means for causing the saw to engage with the tube while the carriage is traveling in one direction7 and -to hold said saw out of said lengagement during the travel of the carriage in the ppposite direction. y

24:. The combination with a tube forming machine in which the finished tube travels axially thereof, severing means therefor mounted on a reciprocating carriage, and means for reciprocating the carriage and operating the severing means, of means for cont-rolling the carriage movements comprising a clutch associated with the carriage operating means; a trip adapted to be engaged and actuated by the formed tube; and connections between said clutch and the trip operable to throw the 4clutch into and out of engagement. i

25. 'lbc combination with a tube forming machine in which the finished tube travels axially thereof, severing means therefor mounted on a reciprocating carriage, and means for reciprocating the carriage and operating the severing means, of means for controlling tlic rcciprocations of the carriage and the tube severing mechanism compiisiug e oluteh associated with the carriage a device carried by the carriage for operatopeiatiiig mechanism; a shaft on which seid ing said trip lever.

clutch is mounted; a device for holding said In testimony whereof, We aIiX our signa,- shaft te disconnect the Clutch; a spring tures, in presence of two Witnesses.

5 tensiened againstsaid shaft and operable i.' T

to move the same to connect the clutch; a LAWTON' trip associated with said shaft holding device adapted to be engaged and released by lVitnesses: the formed tube; e trip lever adapted to VICTOR ARMSTRONG,

10 shift the shaft to disconnect the clutch; and CHARLES HERBERT. 

